VITAS Healthcare

Berdman

Vitas does not have an online chart so I could look at mom's care and meds. You have to call a single number to reach a person who will have not information but is happy to transfer you to another anserwing machine. It was impossible to get any information about which Vitas staff was visiting mom and when they were visiting. Vitas billed Medicare for many visits per month but only twice, in two years, was I able to meet these people at mom's facility. Vitas volunteers mailed cards to mom even though she no longer could open and read them due to suffering from advancd dementia. Vitas had three different social workers visit mom over the two years mom was in hospice. The visits were sparodic. I was very dissapointed with Vitas and cannot recommend them. I went with them because mom's facility recommended them. I have learned a lesson here, interview at least three hospice companies before making a selection. Be sure sign with one that has excellent communication procedures in place. This includes the ability to see the chart at will.

J.M.M.

We had Vitas in-home hospice care for my husband several months back. Our nurses were absolutely incredible. The compassion and care they showed him will stay in my mind forever; it truly made a difference in how we were able to cope during the worst period in our lives, and that compassion extended to the rest of the family as well. From our main nurse to every single aide that came in while he was in crisis care, my children and I all felt cared about. I can't even explain how much it meant in that terrible time to know he was getting the best possible care. Even now, though he's been gone for some time, they continue to check in with us and offer different grief services

what should this be

VITAS Pewaukee team failed to communicate with each other. Hospital nurse assessor failed to ask pertinent questions such as where is the nearest pharmacy for patient, what is the patient's status regarding bed rails and personal hygiene. Lots of confusion over home equipment. Patient was entered into homecare on a Saturday, so it wasn't until the following Tuesday that a care plan could be initiated. CNA arrived on Monday asking what she should do. Request for nurse took 2.5 hours. Only one nurse available on overnight shift to cover 9 counties. A second request for case manager two days prior to patient's death was delayed due to lack of coverage from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. VITAS appears to be short staffed and CNA's were not to happy with the team communication despite lengthy Tuesday team meetings.